Off-duty Denver police officer Robert Wilson was riding his motorcycle after work Dec. 23, 2005, when a drunken driver turned in front of him and cost him is life.

The driver of the truck, Joseph Santillanes, was convicted today on charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and drunken driving. He will be sentenced May 29.

Wilson was westbound on West Evans Avenue near South Bryant Street when Santillanes pulled in front of him. Wilson’s motorcycle slammed into the side of the truck.

Wilson suffered a severe head injury and had to have one kidney and his spleen removed, but he clung to life for six months until June 10, 2006.

Santillanes’ blood alcohol content was 3 ½ times the legal limit, Wenig said.

"He was off the charts drunk," said prosecutor Matt Wenig. "This wasn’t an accident. It was a crime. Because of his condition, he was putting everyone in his path at risk. Because of his excessive drinking, Bob Wilson paid the ultimate price."

Santillanes, who kept driving after the collision and drove around the block before returning to the accident scene, also was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, but the jury acquitted him on that charge.

Santillanes told police he came back to retrieve a tailgate that came off in the collision.

"He never asked if the other guy was OK," Wenig said.

Wilson joined the Denver Police Department in 1995, after serving more than 20 years in the Air Force. He served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Wilson spent his entire police career in District 4, in southwest Denver.